What size gas cylinders?

[Cord]

I'm looking to buy some cylinders for my mig welder. I'm set up to do both aluminum spray and solid core. I'm thinking 90/10 for steel and argon for aluminum. I'll be doing significantly more steel than aluminum. Should I go with two smaller 90/10 tanks that my welding shop will sell to me new? Or should I try to search for some larger used cylinders? Once upon a time, I had found a source for the cylinders and they were willing to sell me some large used ones with a fresh test date for less than the smaller new ones my welding store has. What about the argon cylinder? Just a single smaller one that my shop will sell to me? Last time I did some mig aluminum they loaned me the cylinder and charged me for the gas. Unfortunately, I only used 10% of the gas and they wouldn't credit me for the remaining amount.

 

[yomax4]

Once you get beyond the 40cf size they start to pay off a little. As you move up in size you get way more gas for your your money. If you don't need to haul them around get the largest ones that are affordable.

 

[crazyal]

Around here you have to rent the largest size tanks or they wont fill them. You should call around and ask the gas people what size customer's tanks they will fill. No point buying a tank that nobody in your area will fill.

Personally I got the largest size I could own, bought it filled from the gas supplier. Because it came from them I just exchange cylinders each time I go to get it filled. They take care of the inspection as well.

 

[Cord]

I have a very large acetylene and oxygen cylinder that I already own. Haven't had any problems with getting them filled, but because I get several years out of each fill, I've been having them tested every time I take them in. Don't want to exchange them because then I'll have a cylinder with somebody's name on the neck. With somebody else's name on the cylinder, now I can't sell it. Something to consider the next time they offer to exchange one for you.

 

[BeezFun]

I leased the largest I could fit on my cart from local place (Airco). When I die my wife won't have to bury the tanks with me, she can take them back to Airco and get the deposit back.

 

[lostcause]

i'd suggest you check the prices and policies with all of the local gas places where you live. there are obviously a lot of differences between places. locally, i have two chains and one independent welding supply dealer (and then there's a tractor supply too - they do gas bottle exchanges). i think every place has different policies. each place near me had different policies for different size bottles too.

one person here mentioned having a bottle deposit, but none of the dealers near me require a deposit. i guess they factor loss into their pricing plan.

one person mentioned having their bottle filled so they don't lose their non-stamped neck bottle. this could get rather tedious since it will take time to get it back. every dealer i talked to does swaps, even on customer cylinders. none even mentioned getting a specific bottle filled - i never even knew that was an option at some places.

all the dealers i talked to were not really concerned with the history of 60cf and smaller bottles - they are primarily purchased bottles around here. anything larger and they would require paperwork to prove ownership. the 60cf bottles are around $125-$150, while the next size up (120cf) is about double the price to buy.

two of the dealers here require you to pay recertification fees, and one factors them into the refill price.

your mileage may vary, based on where you live and the dealer policies.

 

[ultrarunner]

I would take my cylinders to the plant on the way to work and pick them up on the way home... it was great having Pacific Oxygen in my backyard.

Since the plant closed, it is no where as convenient to keep my cylinders...

What I do now is get my big ones filled and used those to fill my small ones... Oxygen that is.

Still take the Acetylene in for filling...

 

[Wayne_H]

80 CFM is all I can own here, anything bigger is rented.

Wayne

 

[handirifle]

I own an 80 Cuft o2/argon tank and a set of MC oxy/acet tanks that are a hold over from my a/c days almost 30 years ago. I just took all three in today to local shop and exchanged them. All are current, no exchange fees, no recert, no deposits.

I called three shops to price compare, and none of them said a word about deposits. I own all my tanks and always will. Not sure why someones name on it makes a difference.

I have exchanged my tanks many times over the years, almost always had someones name on it. Never made a difference. And I'm in CA, one of the most regulating states around.

 

[Cord]

I called three shops to price compare, and none of them said a word about deposits. I own all my tanks and always will. Not sure why someones name on it makes a difference.

I have exchanged my tanks many times over the years, almost always had someones name on it. Never made a difference. And I'm in CA, one of the most regulating states around.

The tank belongs to whomever's name is on the neck. By exchanging the cylinder you just gave them yours and now you have their cylinder in your possession. You can never sell the cylinder and can't take it anywhere else to have it filled. You basically just gave your cylinders away. Test me on this. Take one of the cylinders back and try telling the shop that you own them. When they look at the neck what are they going to say? Who's name is there? You need to go back and get your cylinders.